Behaviour Training and Basic Obedience

A lot of people take their dogs to obedience classes thinking that in fact learning to obey commands will fix their behavioural problems as well. This is not the case. Although there are extreme behavioural issues that need more attention than this course offers the material here should be more than enough to get through issues such as; hyperactive greetings, jumping up, barking, yard protecting, digging, stealing and so on.

Behaviour Training; is the first step in training. It will focus on learning about your dog and how to obtain their focus.

Week 1. Understanding Dogs and Training MethodsDogs process information differently than humans do, dogs examine and interact with the world differently than humans do, dogs will react to stimulus differently than humans do. Do I sound repetitive? Good. Dogs do not think like humans! They can learn, but why place the entire burden on them? We are capable of learning how they think and thus should take responsibility for what they do and do not do in daily life, because how they process information should directly affect how we train them. Each dog has a personality and background of their own thus changing slightly the program of training however if We learn about Them the process will be far faster than trying to go against their generations of natural instincts.

Week 2. 1, 2, 3!(Praise, Correction, Timing!) Follow me!Shaping behaviours starts with focusing the dog’s attention on their owner. A dog should look to their owner first and foremost as if they were drawn in by gravity itself. We will teach them that paying attention is a rewarding thing. Many times a dog hears more about what they did wrong than any kind of praise and thus they lose a large part of the bond they should have with their owner. Rebuilding the bond will go a long way towards holding their attention and having them want to work for you.

Week 3. Heeling and DistractionsOnce you have their attention it is time to ​​teach them to Heel. Heeling is a complicated skill that teaches a dog that, once again, paying attention to their owner above all else is rewarding. Quick turns, figure eights and a proper stop all take focus, and so we will have as many distractions available as the dogs can reasonably handle. Balls, squeaky toys, dropped food and even visiting dogs will test the focus of the dogs and the understanding their owners show for the course content. Patience is very important!

Week 4. Practical Applications and PracticeWith the concepts of behaviour training and an understanding of timing the owner can now take on the challenges of daily life. We will work on building the "invisible line" in class and talk about where it would be useful at home. There are a dozen ways that behavioural training can affect daily life. Breaking jumping, barking, chewing, digging and more are now possible. Keeping the dogs away from the couch, bed, coffee tables and dropped food can be done. Changing a hyper and uncontrollable dog into a calm, gentle and loving pet is a wonderful thing but it takes more than just a few commands. It really, truly, is a lifestyle.

Basic Obedience; will cover the 5 commands that every dog should know for stress free daily living. Behaviour Training is STRONGLY recommended before applying!

Week 1. Recap or "Behaviour Training" CondensedFor those who have taken the Behaviour Training course we will go back over everything covered to make sure that there is complete understanding. For those with no prior training we will cover a very condensed version of the Behaviour Training course with a focus on; Understanding Dogs, the Heel command and Shaping Behaviours through 1, 2, 3!(Praise,Correction, Timing!).

Week 2. Sit and StayThis is an easy place to start as the Sit is often done instinctively to obtain a reward. What we teach the dogs then is that they must sit reliably, every time the command is given. The Stay can be a hard command for some dogs as it builds self-control and patience. It is a good command to build mental control over your dog. If they can "Stay" on the couch when company comes you know they are working to obey.​Week 3. DownFor dominant dogs the Down can be a very hard command as it is a submissive gesture. Then again for silly dogs it can be hard as well, to lay poised and still without rolling around looking cute. Either way it is a good command for your arsenal and useful around the home. It is also not a far stretch from Down to Go Lay Down, also a useful command.​Week 4. ComeOne of the top reasons people go looking for training is so that their dog will return to them on command, whether they are sniffing around the yard or if they are chasing after something.

Location

During the summer group classes will be held at the Birch Island Park just outside of Clearwater BC. The park is dog friendly; poop scoop bags are supplied at the gate, it nicely fenced in and has a great deal of space useful for holding large or small classes. During the winter lessons can take place at the owner’s home or local park, depending on weather conditions and space constrictions.

Price

The price is $100 total for each 4 week course. Included are the treats, toys and noisemakers used in addition to a free one hour consultation session within six months of passing the course. There is also a 10% discount available for those who register 2-4 weeks in advance for group classes. Keep a look out for discount vouchers offered for special occasions.

Tips

Get used to sounding like a crazy person! I want you to talk to your dogs, constantly. I want you to say Yes! And No! in rapid succession and Mean it each time. You will need to examine your own vocal and emotional capabilities in order to express those things to your dog properly, instead of saying one thing in English and meaning the other. The dog will know what you really mean, or just be plain confused.